Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-15

Columbia and yankee Doodle" which
caused cheering and clapping OF hands by the
multitude.
President Pratt arose after silence had been
restored and said:-
To-day we have assembled TO honor the
memories of our dead comrades, to lay a
wreath upon the sodded mound which covers
their heroic clay. and Blue and Gray unite in
the trloute to that sublime devotion which
dared 70 die, and the heroism and valor which
Is now Nations heritage.
- welcome you comrades and friends to a
Victory OF peace, in which one of the bravest
and truest of those who fought for the Union.
In the noble nature which speaks for itself,
comes to you no longer leading his fiery
troops, but to add his tribute to the brave men
who died for what they believed to be right"
When concluding. he invited Rev. James
Nelson, D. D.. to offer prayer, which he did in
an eloquent, impressive. and appropriate man.
ner.
GOV. LEE INTRODUCES GEN. AvERILL.
AS Gov. Lee stepped to the front of the stage
to introduce Gen. Averill. he was created with
cheers. His remarks on this occasion, as is
usual with him. were peculiarly happy and ap-
propriate. He commenced by abiding to the
Jonathan -and-David-like friendship which
had existed between himself and Gen. Averill
since they were fellow-students at West Point,
and which had continued unbroken through
time to this. They were cadets together at
West Point where their friendship was first
formed. When Averill was graduated, he was
sent to Carlisle barracks as drill master, and
when Lee was graduated the following year,
he was sent on the same service to the same
place, and there their friendship continued to
grow. After that. tn ey were sent to the 'front.'
Ter. where they served together under the same
fag-"the stars and stripes" They had been
taught to entertain different views as to the
extent and powers of the Federal and State
Governments-the one, the New York cadet
that certain powers were unreservedly dele.
gated, and that the Union of the States was
tndissoluble; and the other, the Virginia
cadet, that those powers were reserved to the
States. and that the State of Virginia in enter
Ing into the compact of Union had expressly
reserved to herself the right to withdraw when
her interests or honor demanded, or when she
should consider herself aggrieved or her rights
denied her by the Federal Government The
North maintaining the former view and the
South the latter, and there being no peaceful
tribunal to settle the question, 1T became an
irresponsible conflict" and the issue was SUBJ
mitted for settlement to the stern arbitrament
of war. The Northern officer rallied to the flag
Of the Union, whilst the Virginian officer, in
loyal obedience to the call of his State returned
to his home to defend his mother State to the
best OF his ability. The war thus begun, con-
tinued for four years. During this time, both
Of them became Generals, commanding caval-
ry, and their forces were sometimes pitted
against each other in deadly conflict. Gov.
Lee said of Gen. Averill that he fought us
brsvely, but fairly, and like true soldier
made no war upon the defenceless.
49,.
ing from his raid on Lynchburg, he had gone
to intercept and capture him, expecting to
meet him at Covington, but he was recalled
and reluctantly obeyed the order, and thus
they failed to meet. If they had met, said Gov.
Lee humorously, 1.-The longest pole would have
gotten the persimmons." He was thus trying
twenty-odd years ago to catch and bring Ave-
rill to Staun ton. said Gov. Lee, and now he is
here to speak for himself. His presence here
under these circumstances shows that the war
is, indeed, over, and that the question that
divided the country is settled. and that we are
now one people, with one destiny and with
one flag.
This, he said, is q magnificent demonstration
in memory OF the loved and lost, and no brave
man can do otherwise than approve it, That
they were brave and good soldiers cannot be
denied by those who were foes in war: for II
they were not how is it that it required four
long years for a strong government with mil
lion of men to conquer them? Among them,
were "Stonewall" Jackson, who rose from the
quiet college professor to become a star in the
red armament OF war, and the brave and noble
and self-sacrificing Jeb. Stuart. who, on being
told that his child at home was sick, said: Il
must leave my child in the hands of God-my
duty requires me here"
Looking at Gen. Averill, Gov Lee said, your
presence here under these happy auspices
clearly indicates that we are in the dawn of re-
vived national feeling, and that we now have
peace that is disturbed by no cannons save
those fired in memory OF the brave and honor
ed soldiers who fell in both armies. Whether
they fell in the one army or the other. said
Gen. Lee. if they did their duty as true and
manly soldiers should, he was proud of them
as Americans.
In concluding. Gov. Lee said he would now
introduce him who was the New York Cadet
at West Point, and afterwards the distinguish
ed seldier.-Gen. W. W. Averill, Of New York.
Great applause)
GEN. AvERILL's ADDRESS.
AS Gen. Averill arose and stepped forward,
he was greeted by the vast audience with great
cheering. The following is the full text of his
excellent address,
Felloao Countsymen:-I thank you for the
honor that your invitation brought to me- and
for the great pleasure of meeting YOU on thi a
occasion of the yearly rewakenfne of the cher
ished memories of your departed soldiers s.
Your courteous summons made me happy by
forgotten is TO be dead, and I gladly come to
assist in Memorial service which shall keep
alive in memory the days and deeds of those
brave men OF yours who are not dead but liv.
Ing immortally-just beyond the bourne of
earthly sense. (applause)
Undoubtedly there are many people in our
country who were acquainted with the war at
long range and are not yet aware that 1t Is
over. And some double-tongued statesmen
who may feel surprised that one who had In
vaded and pervaded your country with an
active armed force. should be asked to receive
your hospitality on an occasion like this, when
you are perpetuating the sad but heroic mems
cries he had helped to create.
When last was here,
TwBNTY-THREE YEARs:AGo
these hills had been resounding with the
dreadful thunder of artillery and the deadly
rattle of muske try, and the dust of these tram
led fields had been redeemed wi tn the blood of
con tending armies.
mountain top with the quiet atmosphere and
sunny glow Of peace, and the fields, as far as
the eye can reach, are covered with billow-
ing mantle of prosperity (applause.)
Where once, out posts and pickets were set
to guard my command against q brave and
persistent enemy, I now stand alone q well
for the changed conditions l have experience
ed every vicissitude of war, including being
killed-for I have been half killed twice.
Qaughter). but of all the triumphs have ever
enjoyed this victory of peace to-day is the
grandest and most satisfactory. (applause.)
Among the
CAUSES OF THIS NOTABLE EVENT
recognize frst.a growing custom which will
satisfy the universal longing of all men to es-
cape oblivion when their turn shall come to
stand the test of remembrance. Secondly,
recognize in my own welcome the highest
compliment that you could pay to my COM
mand by remembering that when 1t was here
In your country fighting for restoration of
the Union and the preservation Of our nation
ality. 1t did not attack the defenceless-that it
fought your soldiers with courage and energy
but held your homes as far as possible sacred
from the touch of war; (applause)
Since your invitation to me was announced,
have received letters from many of my off,
GERS and men in different parts of the country.
expressing their qualification at your action,
Your surviving soldiers remember
MY COMMANDO;
they remember how, when new and untrfed
1T fought your army of West Va. in August,
'63, at Rocky Gap. near White SULPHUR
Springs. without discredit, for twenty-four
hours; how it again attacked and routed that
army at Drop Mountain in November OF that
year, and you cannot forgot how portion or
my command, $500 mounted men. penetrated